Mike Rianda On Making Sony Animation’s ‘The Mitchells Vs. The Machines’ (Interview)

Sony Pictures Animation’s The Mitchells vs. the Machines launches on Netflix April 30. The film was picked up by the streamer after a planned theatrical release that had to be scuttled due to the pandemic.

The Mitchells vs. the Machines tells the story of one dysfunctional family’s unforgettable road trip during the robot apocalypse. The film features a watercolor style that gives it a handmade feel, and also makes fun use of quirky GIFs, as well as hand-drawn 2d elements that pop up occasionally to reveal things about protagonist Katie.

To mark the release, INBTWN Animation, a Cartoon Brew partner, sat down with Mike Rianda to discuss his feature directorial debut. In INBTWN’s interview, Rianda shares details about the development of the film’s style, explaining how it pushed the technology Sony Pictures Imageworks created for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse to even greater heights.

He also tells us about the challenges he has faced working in both feature and tv animation, the experience of switching from 2d to cgi, being cast as one of the leads in Mitchells, working with producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller, and much, much more.

Watch the conversation below: